February 19, 2012 5:54pm ESTFebruary 16, 2012 3:20pm ESTDraft prospects are in final preparation for the 2012 Scouting Combine, which opens Feb. 22 in Indianapolis.

Staff report

Published on Feb. 16, 2012 | Updated on Feb. 19, 2012

Feb. 16, 2012

In training centers across the United States, prospects are toning their bodies and tuning their minds for testing and trials at the 2012 NFL Scouting Combine. A key evaluation process for the NFL Draft, the Combine opens Feb. 22 in Indianapolis.

"From what I’ve heard," former Stanford guard David DeCastro writes in his latest draft diary, "the physical stuff is the easy part. It’s the interviews with the teams that want to speak with you and the medical process you have to go through that can be the most challenging."

From the Wonderlic intelligence test to probing of doctors and team executives, the Combine is a drain on the mind as well as the body.

Another possible first-round pick, former Southern Cal tackle Matt Kalil, describes the training he is doing, which includes diet in its regime. No matter the sport, eating right is key to player fitness.

"What most people don’t understand is that in college, it’s hard work maintaining a diet," Kalil writes in his diary for SN. "You’re going to class and you have to get food on your own. When you have back-to-back classes, there’s not always time to eat during the day. For a lot of athletes, that’s when it’s hard to maintain your physique or to get bigger."

Kalil is a likely top-five pick, with SN's Russ Lande figuring him at No. 3 for now. That would be to the Minnesota Vikings, who have two below-average offensive tackles and must upgrade their pass protection to help young quarterback Christian Ponder. Kalil, Lande reports, is clearly the draft's best left tackle prospect.

While guards generally aren't hot in the draft, Lande projects DeCastro going at No. 24 to the Pittsburgh Steelers. That pick would fill a need for the Steelers, who have questions on their line, because of the aggressive, tough mentality he brings.

When the Combine begins, these players and hundreds of others will be doing their best to impress NFL teams. Sporting News has a list of players invited to Indy. Check it out and be ready with SN experts present news and information from the workouts. Then, be prepared for on-campus workouts, known as Pro Days, that begin in March.